NCFC says violence against children must stop

By BBN Staff: The National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) issued a press release this afternoon joining the nation in mourning the tragic loss of another innocent Belizean child.

“It is truly a tragic outcome. Media reports about the questionable circumstances surrounding the tragic death of baby Janeeka Campbell leaves the NCFC with grave concerns and a number of questions,” the release states.

“The death of any child is regrettable. Sadly, the recent results of the Belize Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2015 indicate that children below the age of five experience the most severe forms of violence against them,” the release adds, saying “it is our collective responsibility to ensure that parents have all the support they need to raise happy and healthy children.”

The NCFC reminded all Belizeans that it takes a village to raise a child and that every citizen has a moral obligation to act when seeing warning signs of violence against children. NCFC urges citizens to report all suspected cases of child abuse to the relevant authorities.

The committee said it is seriously concerned about the level of violence that children experience and continues to call on communities decide that violence against children should never be tolerated. NCFC urged the state, civil society and non-governmental organizations to coordinate and ensure that the services they provide reach those families and children who need them most.

In accordance with Part II Section 5-(1) of the Families and Children Act, Chapter 173 Revised Laws of Belize Edition 2011,states “it should be the duty of a parent, guardian, or any person having custody of the child to maintain that child and in particular, that duty gives a child the right to a proper life. Subsection 5-(2) also states that “it shall be the duty of any person having custody of a child to use his best efforts to protect the child from discrimination, violence, abuse and neglect,” NCFC noted.

The committee also encouraged parents to consider positive discipline methods. Teaching children self-control and acceptable behavior is an integral part of a child’s discipline, it added.

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